West Virginia

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Establishing Builders Institute to Expand Capacity for Clean Water (multiple states)
Increase regional capacity to implement watershed restoration and conservation projects more efficiently and effectively by establishing a Chesapeake Capacity Builders Institute. Project will engage 130 watershed stewardship leaders in piloting efforts to build and enhance collective watershed project management.
$399,093

Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust
Leveraging Hunt Clubs and Conservation Hubs to Improve Water Quality and Wildlife Habitat (WV)
Expand wildlife habitat hubs and corridors in West Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed through permanent land protection and engagement of hunt clubs. Project will protect 1,000 acres of critical habitat for eastern brook trout, freshwater mussels, several federally endangered species, and 60 other species of greatest conservation need.
$275,905

Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Expanding Rotational Grazing through the Mountains to Bay Grazing Alliance (MD, PA, VA, WV)
Expand the adoption of rotational grazing practices among dairy and livestock operations in the Shenandoah Valley, western and central Maryland, and southcentral Pennsylvania. Project will utilize conservation and farm networks to improve grazing management on 1,200 acres.
$493,780

National Wildlife Federation
Building and Advancing Capacity of Chesapeake Nonprofits to Accelerate Water Quality Improvements (multiple states)
Coordinate efforts to create a more inclusive and diverse Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration movement and support regional and watershed-wide convenings to improve collaboration and impact among nearly 300 nonprofits working towards Bay restoration.
$286,543

Rolling Ridge Conservancy
Protecting and Restoring Forest and Grasslands at the Virginia-West Virginia Border
Implement a forest stewardship plan and grassland restoration on 1,795 acres of forest and floodplain along the Shenandoah River at the Virginia-West Virginia border. Project will permanently protect 100 acres and convert an additional 60 acres of turf and invasive plants to native grassland habitat.
$265,000

Sustainable Chesapeake
Improving Nutrient Management Programs through Collaboration (multiple states)
Improve nutrient management program delivery by facilitating collaboration among nutrient management leaders throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. Project will improve collaboration among land grant universities in the region, working across state lines with those leading the development of agricultural nutrient management recommendations across the watershed.
$65,910

The Nature Conservancy
Permanently Protect Habitat in Canaan Valley to Increase Climate Resilience (WV)
Permanently protect 4,490 acres of habitat in Canaan Valley, West Virginia under active threat of development. Project will contribute to climate resilience, protect the largest wetland complex in the region and connect 75,000 acres of protected land.
$1,000,000

The Forest Stewards Guild
Increasing Capacity for Bird-friendly Forestry on West Virginia’s Private Forest Lands
Increase awareness, capacity, and acreage for bird-friendly forestry in West Virginia’s Monongahela Forest Focal Geography. Project will develop a dynamic forest management plan for at least 5,000 acres of private forest lands and create demonstration sites to engage students, landowners, foresters, and loggers.
$143,336

Trout Unlimited
Accelerating Water Quality Improvements
and Supporting Conservation Collaboratives (MD, PA, VA, WV)
Support restoration efforts and the assessment and further development of conservation collaboratives, programs, and services within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed region. Project will result in improved water quality in focal watersheds, increased capacity to deliver watershed scale conservation services in the region, engagement of future environmental stewards, and the long-term monitoring and maintenance of conservation projects.
$979,739

Trout Unlimited
Eastern Brook Trout Habitat Assessments for Strongholds (VA, WV)
Fill data gaps in brook trout presence, aquatic organism passage, and instream and riparian habitats to further watershed restoration plans for brook trout strongholds in the South Branch and the North Fork of the South of the Potomac. Project will improve understanding of brook trout patch dynamics, an updated data set for aquatic organism passage project prioritization, and regional watershed scale restoration plans to further prioritize restoration efforts.
$74,847

Trout Unlimited
Reconnecting and Restoring Brook Trout Strongholds (VA, WV)
Enhance and increase Eastern brook trout populations in the South Branch of the Potomac River in Virginia and West Virginia. Project will reconnect 16 miles of high-quality headwaters habitat and restore nearly 9 miles of riparian habitat through livestock exclusion and riparian forest buffers.
$495,342

Trout Unlimited
Watershed and Habitat Restoration at Seneca Rocks to Enhance Recreation and Community Benefits (WV)
Enhance eastern brook trout populations, improve watershed conditions, and expand recreation and educational opportunities in the Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Project will reconnect 1.5 miles of brook trout habitat and an additional mile of riparian forest habitat.
$500,000

West Virginia Land Trust
Restoring James Spinymussel Along Potts Creek (WV)
Preserve and restore one of two remaining populations of the endangered James spinymussel along the South Fork of Potts Creek. Project will permanently protect a 40-acre tract, implement conservation practices support a variety of wildlife, and restore sections of Potts Creek critical to the resident James spinymussel population.
$499,824

West Virginia National Guard Foundation
Restoring Mine Lands through More Efficient Distribution Agricultural Nutrients (WV)
Improve transport of poultry litter from West Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed to enhance abandoned mine reclamation efforts across the state. Project will support mine reclamation efforts on 180 acres for the Patriot Apple Project benefiting ex-coal miners and veterans in the region.
$499,146